Helloooo K!
The last two days have been so busy that I didn’t have a chance to send you the latest. But it’s been a good busy! I’ve seen so much since I left Florence yesterday.
Time out for a second – have we talked about Florence vs. Firenze? Jim Gaffigan has a great bit recently about how places have actual names and we’re just like, ‘Oh, you’re called Firenze? I’m just gonna call you Florence…’ and now every time I say Florence, I feel like an ugly American. It was a great bit, though! You would’ve loved it AND you would’ve loved his new special too. But, I digress…
I took the train from Florence down to Naples where I was met by a nice young guy, Lucio, who drove me to Pompeii. We were met there by Paolo who then gave me a quick tour through Pompeii. It was fascinating! I know you had said the same but I couldn’t get over how many things we still do today that they did back then. How did they figure out how to build those spas with all the steam? And I loved those cisterns in the houses that collected the rain so the moon would light their homes. I’d love one of those! Except bugs….ugh!
I didn’t take any photos there. I think my new friend Paolo was worried I wasn’t enjoying it but I explained I felt weird taking photos where so many people had tragic deaths. It reminded me of when I worked by World Trade and people were always stopping to take selfies by the memorial. I don’t know. It just didn’t sit right.
Today, I took a ferry over to Capri and I loved it so much. First, I did a boat tour around the island. I took so many photos because each view seemed to be better than the last. We couldn’t go in the Blue Grotto because of high tides but still got to peek into some of the smaller grottoes.
After the tour, I took the funicular up and walked around for some shopping and lunch. I found this little shop that makes sandals the traditional Capri way and ordered up a pair – as you always said, ‘only the best for us!’ They weren’t even very expensive and took no time at all. I went for lunch and when I got back, she tried them on me and finished making them to fit my feet. They were perfect. Then I wandered some more and headed back to Sorrento on the ferry.
I couldn’t remember if you ever made it down to this area. I knew you went to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii but I couldn’t remember the rest. But Monika let me know on Facebook that you guys did come down here in high school! With Mrs. Arraina? I probably spelled that wrong but of course you know who I mean.
For dinner, I thought I’d go into town but then I got a table at my hotel restaurant overlooking the bay just as the sun was setting. How could I pass that up? The food was amazing and the prosecco was free-flowing but the sunset was the star of the show. I actually put my phone down and just watched for a while. I wondered what we would be doing if you were here. Would you have been sitting right there with me? Or would we have been more adventurous, emboldened by being a party of 2 where 1 actually speaks Italian? I don’t know. Sometimes I like to think about it and then sometimes it becomes too much and I have to move along. One thing I do know, the prosecco would definitely be free-flowing either way.
Alright, all my prosecco tonight has me needing to go to bed. Tomorrow I’ll head to Positano to check it out. My tourist book says it has the best views but I know you know why I want to go there – Under the Tuscan Sun! It’s where she goes with Marcello and they find a kitten and fall madly in lust. I don’t expect our experiences to be the same but I’m still game to check it out. Clearly, I’ll keep you posted.
Ciao,
B
Postcards to My Sister 